Friday, January 13, 2012


re:  THE COWSILLS / GOOD VIBRATIONS:

>>>I'm wondering if anyone out there in forgottenhitsland would have a copy of The Cowsills In Concert album?  I used to have it, but it has disappeared.  I wanted to show my band mates the version of Good Vibrations that they did on that album.  Hey, it might be cool for the Forgotten Hits freaks to hear it, too, since one of the Cowsills is going to play drums in the Beach Boys' reunion tour, if it happens.  Thanks for any help you or the rest of the fab folks out there can provide.  (Bill)  
Has anyone sent the Cowsills track yet?  Here it is, straight off my original LP.  
David Lewis  
Interestingly enough, we received several copies of their live version of "Good Vibrations" after this piece ran.  Apparently it was released on CD a few years back (but is now out of print.)  Actually, having just heard it for the very first time, I have to admit that it's a pretty darn good version of a VERY difficult song, especially to pull off live!  (Anybody remember when Todd Rundgren did HIS remake of this?)  It's from his "Faithful" album (where he also did a couple of pretty cool Beatles remakes, too.)  Bearsville decided to release Todd's version of "Good Vibrations" as a single ... and it went all the way to #34 in 1976.  (kk)
Hi Kent, 
A few days ago, you were looking for a digital copy of the Cowsills’ version of “Good Vibrations” from their “In Concert” album. Here is a copy attached. 
The album was released on CD by Razor & Tie in 1994 and it includes all four tracks from an EP that the group issued to promote milk in 1968. “In Concert” was by far the Cowsills’ highest charting LP, no doubt fueled by their version of “Hair” reaching #2 on the Hot-100 the same year. You then have to wonder why their decline came so fast and was so precipitous. One clue may be that the “In Concert” LP, with the exception of “Hair”, consists entirely of songs that were then 2 or 3 years old; “Good Vibrations” being a case in point. The LP did not feature any contemporary material. 
And now for the plug! The Cowsills are featured in our Rhode Island music heritage website at: http://www.ripopmusic.org/  
The site, which is still a work-in-progress (you know how that is!), has been put together by local music enthusiasts and it features both nationally and locally known artists. We feature bios, discographies, song-ographies, memorabilia, etc., and the nationally known acts include the Cowsills, Freddie Scott, Gerry Granahan, Anders & Poncia, Tavares and Wadsworth Mansion. Naturally we would appreciate comments, corrections and additional information. 
In August 2011, the Cowsills (those still with us) premiered a film of their life, “"Family Band: The Cowsills Story," at the Rhode Island International Film Festival (didn’t think there was such a thing, huh?). This film is well worth tracking down and it features some insights into their upbringing which were a revelation to most of those in the audience. 
Best regards,
Mike Edwards 
Would be interested in seeing a screening copy of that film.  (Has it been make the film festival circuit?)  As I said, I knew them for their hits ... and was surprised to hear just how full-sounding they really were!  (kk) 

Hi Kent,

Jerry here from upstate New York, wishing you a Happy New Year. I sure look forward to your Forgotten Hits  emails every week. 
This is for our friend who is looking for The Cowsills In Concert recording of “Good Vibrations”.  This is coming off my CD of this album. 
I have a question for you. The Cowsills carried a demo of their song “Hair” during their 1969 tour. MGM records never thought the sound fit their image and didn’t want to release it as a single.  During their tour stop in Chicago the demo was played at a local radio station. The stations DJ played the demo during their on-air interview and the phones lines lit up.  
Any idea which radio station played the demo and who was the DJ???  It sure sounds like the station and DJ had a lot to do with MGM finally releasing “Hair” as a single, doesn’t it? 
One last thing, Kent.  I have a Cowsills song  I’ve looked all over for as well.  I’ve heard a song called “Some Great Years”. The song to me is fantastic. Can you find a recording and tell me where I can get it. 
Jerry 
I personally don't remember anything like that regarding "Hair" ... but this sort of thing happened all of the time back then so it's very likely true.  I asked our local braintrust to see what they could remember and here's what I got back:  
Hi Kent;
I doubt that it was WLS because at that time the mindset was more along the lines of two or three songs in a row, followed by spots and another two or three in a row.  WCFL was doing the same thing. There was little if any room for interviews or innovation. It might have been WLS-FM or one of the other up and coming FM’s as they had few spots to play and had the time to be creative. Interesting that that’s exactly what killed AM rock!  
Clark Weber   

I've never heard the story. But I did some checking. 
The Cowsills web site says they recorded the song on 1/20/69. Their only Chicago appearance in 1968 was at the National 4-H Congress here 12/3/68.  Did they have a demo of the song they played on the radio? Possible. But it wouldn't have been the finished product. 
You would think that the station that "broke" the song initially would have jumped on playing it when it was released. "Hair" debuted on Billboard's chart 3/15/69. It shows up on WLS' Silver Dollar Survey 3/10/69 and WCFL's Big 10 Survey 3/19/69. So the edge would be to WLS, if the story's true.  Beyond that, I can't say.
-- Ron Smith 

Kent,   
I do not have any knowledge of the demo, however I do have a possible connection.  In the early 70's, Milwaukee's WOKY Top 40 station put out a various artists collection as was commonplace for stations at the time.  THIS particular album had a version of "Hair" that was slightly different than the released 45 and album version on MGM.  It had "wind" sounds inserted into the original version.  Pretty cool sound to my ears.  Anyway, in the early 80's, Dick Bartley was interested in getting this version from us for his show as he had heard of it before.  We sent it in to him and he played it.  Not sure if this would have been the demo version played in Chicago, but it could be, as Milwaukee is not far out of our picture.  Maybe Phil Nee knows for sure? 
Clark Besch  
Charting it the week before it premiered in Billboard would seem to give the edge to WLS, but the other timing just doesn't seem to work out.  If they performed in Chicago in December of 1968, that's seven weeks before they even went into the studio to record the single.  Is it possible they were rehearsing and demo-ing the song prior to that?  Sure, anything's possible ... but honestly it seems like a bit of a stretch.  (The Milwaukee connection presents another possible solution ... maybe Phil Nee or Gary Myers or somebody else from our list up that way can check this on their end???)  

If it's the "wind" version you're referring to as being an early demo mix, I've heard that one played a number of times over the years ... and probably even have it in my own collection on a compilation CD of some sort.  I guess I never really thought that much about it ... if anything, I found the wind sound distracting!  
"Hair" the musical began its Broadway run in April of 1968 ... and ran for an incredible 1750 performances.  FOUR major hit singles charted from the "soundtrack" ... the title track "Hair" by The Cowsills (#1), "Aquarius / Let The Sun Shine In" by The Fifth Dimension (also #1), "Good Morning Starshine" by Oliver (#3) and "Easy To Be Hard" (#3) by Three Dog Night.  Needless to say ... and controversial as it may have been at the time ... the music from "Hair" crossed over very well to the pop charts.  You can read more about "Hair" in our 20th Anniversary piece saluting 1969 here:  Click here: Forgotten Hits: 1969: HAIR .  In fact, you'll find ALL kinds of cool 1969 memories spread out around this area of the website. 

Intrigued by Jerry's mention of The Cowsills' song "Some Great Years", I did some searching around and found a song called "Some Good Years" by The Cowsills available as an MP3 download on Amazon ... I'm guessing that that's the one you're thinking of ... and I've got to tell you, it's not a bad track at all.  These guys had a much fuller sound than I remember ... really evident on the two tracks we're featuring today.  Actually, the more I play it, the more I like it ... in fact, this is a GREAT song ... and sounds a bit ahead of its time.  After listening to it for the third time, I couldn't help but wonder if Mike and the Mechanics spent some time listening to The Cowsills back in the '60's!!!  Then I found out that this particular song was recorded by the reunited Cowsills in 1993 ... so it's obviously the other way around ... which kinda bummed me out in a way ... but it's still a VERY good song nonetheless!  (kk)


re:  HUEY:  
Where else would a guy go for info other than to Kent and the Forgotten Hits Readers.  
A friend and I were talking about Huey Lewis and the News yesterday.
The talk was about the long time members and I mentioned that I thought that the original bass player, Mario Cipollina, was dead.  Now we've got a bet going.  I know his brother is dead, but I thought that Mario had also died in the last couple years. 
I can't seem to find anything about him passing in 2009 on the internet.
Didn't this come up on the Forgotten Hits list last year?
Thanks for any help.  Bill

I don't remember this particular topic coming up.  I checked the latest Joel Whitburn book to see if he mentioned anything about Mario's passing but there's nothing there.  (It DOES mention that Mario Cipollina was the brother of John from Quicksilver Messenger Service and that he passed away in 1989.)  I couldn't find anything listed online about Mario's passing ... so I've got to assume he's doing fine! Meanwhile, in OTHER Huey Lewis and the News news ... the guys have been asked to sing the National Anthem at the San Francisco 49er's first 2012 Divisional Playoff Game on Saturday, January 14, 2012, at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA, at 1:30 pm, Pacific Time. (Now THAT's something we can ALL cheer about!!!)  kk
re: CHARLIE GRACIE:
>>>You mentioned the fact that Charlie Gracie was appearing at the World Cafe in Philadelphia on 12/30/2011.  I checked Ron Smith's fine book "Eight Days A Week" and found out that Charlie Gracie recorded "Butterfly" on 12/30/1956. Maybe in some future edition of Forgotten Hits you can ask Charlie to compare those two days. I'd be interested in knowing what happened on both days.  (Frank B)  
December 30th, 1956, would have to be the biggest event in my father's careers (as that's the date when Butterfly and Ninety Nine Ways were laid down) ... until the event this past Friday in 2011. The World Cafe Theater event was amazing -- over 400 attended and that is capacity ... and a little beyond for the WCT. The new cd is doing well, as is the new single BABY DOLL. Richie Scarlet of Kiss (another Gracie fan ... and we were not aware of that until recently) plays the lead instrumental break on the tune.
Chas, Jr.
re: EYDIE GORME:  
>>>I need help finding an Eydie Gorme song on CD.  It's called "I Want You To Meet My Baby".  I believe I've seen it only once on a CD, but it was EXPENSIVE!  It is so hard to find any info about it.  I know it came out in the Spring / Summer of '64 and stalled at #43 nationally.  

I believe Weil / Mann wrote this one.  Here's a YouTube clip -- (It sounds VERY clear)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnWbDtJKNY0 .   
I heard somewhere that Eydie and Steve purchased her back-catalog and have kept it from re-releases.  Is this true???  The song is so catchy -- it's a real golden oldie that would sound great on the radio!  Why would they not want any recognition on much of her work?  (AJK)
>>>I seem to remember Collectors' Choice Music offering the complete Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme catalog a while back ... 
I just checked their site and found several titles still available: 
Click here: CCMusic Results - eydie gorme ; Click here: CCMusic Results - steve lawrence .   
Based on this, I'd say there are a number of selections still available to choose from (but I couldn't find the particular song you were looking for listed amongst them.) 
As for "I Want You To Meet My Baby", I wasn't familiar with it before ... but it's not a bad tune.  (My guess is it was the intended B-Side since the flip is called "Can't Get Over The Bossa Nova", an obvious reference to Gorme's biggest chart record "Blame It On The Boss a Nova", a #6 Hit the year before.)  kk 
I don't have that one in my collection but I recommend using a super mp3 recorder (Windows) or Audio Hijack (Mac) to record audio from youTube.  I get a lot of amazing music that way.  My most recent find was Hully Gully Papa by Jasper Woods that was played on KYA 50 years ago.   Each week on my radio show I play what was coming on station playlists 50 yrs ago.  KPOO.com Sunday Nights  10 pm  Pacific time.  I love to buy the 45's when I can find them,  download from the usual sources (especially like eMusic) but sometimes places like youTube are the last resort.  
My current fave Elvis track is:  It's Your Baby, You Rock It.  The picture of him on the cover of Elvis Country is priceless.
Charlie Miller, the Autumn King  


Kent, 
I always did like Eydie Gorme's I WANT YOU TO MEET MY BABY. That was the 'A' side of the record here in OKC. The flip side was I believe an answer to BLAME IT ON THE BOSSA NOVA. Speaking of answers, not too many of the answer records made our local surveys here in OKC. Without checking I don't know offhand if you have ever done a feature in the past concerning answer records. I know that the Blossoms' recording of SON-IN-LAW, the answer to Ernie K-Doe's MOTHER-IN-LAW was played here in OKC. One final thing. The two records you posted by Kenny Rogers reminded me of a novelty / answer to his LUCILLE. It was called LOOSE WHEEL. Don't know offhand who did it. Larry  
P.S. The song by Eydie Gorme is not to be confused with the 1955 recording by singer Lillian Briggs on Epic, I WANT YOU TO BE MY BABY.
We've talked about doing an "Answer Song" series for YEARS now.  Way back when, when Forgotten Hits first started, we had a list member named "Hugybear" who was an answer song collecting fiend ... he had hundreds and hundreds of records in his collection of this nature ... and we talked a few times about putting something together to run in Forgotten Hits.  Sadly, it never happened ... and, even sadder, Hugy is no longer with us.  I think we featured the ULTIMATE answer song a couple of weeks ago when we spun "He'll Have To Go" by Jim Reeves with "He'll Have To Stay" by Jeanne Black in our "Today's Forgotten Hit" feature. 
As for "Lucille" ... and I've told this story many times before ... the first few times I heard this song on the radio, I honestly and seriously believed Kenny was singing about poor Lucille, with four hundred children and a crop in the field."  (lol)  kk

My cousin used to own "I Want You To Meet My Baby" / "Can't Get Over (The Bossa Nova)" by Eydie Gorme as well as "Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl" by Patty & The Emblems (thank you, Dick Biondi, for spinning that one and numerous non-Top 10 requests on your great program!!!). 
Bobster 
And thanks to FH Reader Tom Diehl for sending us a clean MP3 of the Eydie Gorme song!

re:  THIS AND THAT: 
Kent,
I wonder how many Chicagoans remember Svengoolie?  I have been a fan of Jerry G Bishop since his KYW Cleveland radio days before he moved on to CFL in mornings in 68 and then started the Svengoolie TV show airing horror movies.  I ask because our local channel 8.2 now airs the Son of Svengoolie show and it is pretty funny, too. I find that this Svengoolie was a writer for Jerry G's Svengoolie in the 70's before Jerry handed the reigns over to the "Son of S".  When I saw this Svengoolie show, I immediately wondered what was going on, as it was based in Chicago, too.  Pretty nice connection to the old Chicago days for me in Lincoln! 
WLSCLark 
PS.  I still have my Jerry G "Svengoolie" autograph! 
While I was never a Svengoolie fan, I was a BIG fan of Jerry G. Bishop and his time spent on the air here in Chicago.  Would LOVE to know what he's up to ... he was filling in on Real Oldies there for awhile but haven't heard much about him since. I'm sure there are a number of Svengoolie fans out there 'tho!  (kk)

I asked Ron Smith for an update on Jerry G. ... here's what he told me:
Jerry G. did weekends at Real Oldies 1690. He owns three Greek restaurants in San Diego, where he currently lives.  
While he's on Facebook, he doesn't post much, probably due to a mild stroke he suffered a couple of years ago.  
-- Ron

re:  HELPING OUT OUR READERS:
I'm looking for a 1973 MOR song called Love For You by Sonoms. 
Does anyone have it?
Mark The Shark
Hey folks, welcome to Kenny the K's Swap and Shop and Long-Lost Tune Exchange! 
If somebody has a copy of this and is inclined to send it along to Mark, here is his email information:  shark18@nycap.rr.com  (Please do not send the tracks here ... we're providing this as a " reader only" service!)  Thanks!  (kk)

TMI:
File this one under the "Too Much Information" category!
After we posted the clip of Randy Bachman's discovery of how to recreate the opening chord to The Beatles' classic "A Hard Day's Night", we received a rather long-winded (and I'm being kind!) explanation from FH Reader Gary Myers as to the proper definition of a diminished and suspended chord.  I'll be the first to admit that it went COMPLETELY over my head ... and I can't imagine that I'm alone in this regard.
(Don't get me wrong ... Gary has literally written the book on chords ... and you'll find it available thru his website link below.  But this whole thing had my head spinning!  As I mentioned at the time, for me, the whole thing has always been the fact that I was COMPLETELY blown away by the opening chord to "A Hard Day's Night" the very first time I ever heard it ... and continue to consider it one of the GREATEST song-openings ever recorded.  I choose not to analyze it but rather to simply enjoy it!) 
In any event, here it is again (for the benefit of those of you out there who DO speak this language) along with one other comment that we received:  
>>>Kent, 
This is to your contributor Ed, who commented about the "Hard Days Night" chord. I don't know what he's calling an augmented chord in there. The two different chords mentioned in that video are Fadd9 and Dsus, neither of which is augmented, nor do they create an augmented chord when combined. I'm sure this is way more than you want to know, but they aren't really that unrelated either: 
The sus4 of the D is the same note as the add9 on the F.  The D note is the 6th of F (and the actually the root of the overall chord), and the C note (in the F chord) would be the 7th of the Dsus.  The oddest note in the overall chord is actually the F note because the basic overall chord is D7sus4, which is D-G-A-C. The G-A-C are contained in the Fadd9, the D--G-A are contained in the Dsus, leaving the F note as the oddball, and technically making the overall chord a Dm7add4 (or add11).   If it were any variation of G aug, it would have a D# note; if it were any variation of D aug, it would have an A# note; if it were any variation of F aug, it would have a C# note. 

Feel free to refer me to Ed if he'd like to email me directly.
Gary E. Myers / MusicGem
http://www.music-gem.com/index.html
>>>Did you guys all get that?!?!?  Personally, I like it because I just think it sounds really neat!!!  (kk)  

>>>It occurred to me that Ed might be viewing the F note at the augmented 9th of the D7sus, so perhaps that's what he meant. Generally the term "augmented chord" refers to the basic structure and I think any musician I know would take it to mean an aug 5th. Whenever upper extensions are augmented (generally only occuring with 9th's or 11th's), they would be named specifically. So yeah, you could technically name the overall chord as D7sus4/aug9, but since that's a name I've never seen, I'm pretty sure that it will be much better understood as Dm7add4 (or as I also said previously add11, or even just "add G").
Gary E. Myers / MusicGem  
>>>Yes ... that's MUCH clearer now!!!  (lol)  Sorry ... but this is all WAY over MY head!!!  Like I said, I just think it's an amazing sound that they happened to hit upon.  Clearly, they were looking for an attention-getting, dynamic opening chord to kick off their new single (which, in turn, would ALSO open their very first film.)  In this case, I'd have to state that they succeeded in spades.  I can't think of ANY other opening chord that commanded ... and demanded your attention the way this one did back in 1964.  (kk)  

HUH??  Can you put that in 5th grade language (yeah ... for me, too!) ... or should I just stick to playing the Youtube explanation and settle for the WOW factor?? :-) 

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Tuesday Comments

Here's your reaction to some of our most recent topics ...  

re:  THE COUNTDOWN:  
The only time “Honey” was #1 for me is when I declared it #1 Bad Record of 1968. It had competition like Harper Valley, Little Green Apples, but it won! It seems almost amateurishly bad compared to all the Rap & Crud in this era! Worst records of the year might be a category to think about as well?? 
Ken  
I know "Honey" came up a couple of times in Scott Shannon's old Cheezy-Easy Listening Song of the Day feature ... old time Forgotten Hits Readers will remember we started a poll several years ago asking our audience to name their "Guaranteed Gaggers" ... and "Honey" topped THAT poll, too!  (kk)

Hi Kent,
I loved the countdown.  I didn't come back every hour, but quite often.
I loved your idea for compiling and thought it it was a much more fair version of what should be in the top 200.  Now I'm just going to compile it all on to an MP3 disc for our next dinner
parties.
Happy New Year and thanks for all you keep doing for all of us.
Bill  

Overall, we got a pretty good response ... something a little bit different, to be sure.  
We have permanently posted it on the other Forgotten Hits webpage: 
Click here: Forgotten Hits - THE TOP 200 #1 HITS OF THE BEATLES ERA, 1964 - 1970 



re:  THE HIT PARADE HALL OF FAME:

Can anybody say "Weakest Class Ever"??? 
Rick

There were a few surprises this year, to be sure ... the "carry over" votes outweighed the new votes coming in and, as such, some names that have been on the ballot for awhile finally found their way into The Hit Parade Hall Of Fame.
Most surprising to me?  The exclusion of Daryl Hall and John Oates.  In our previous Most Deserving And Denied Artists (as ignored by The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame), The Dynamic Duo of Hall and Oates ... the most successful recording duo of all time ... always place high on the list.  I'm sure that will be the case once again when we run the poll in a few weeks (right after this year's Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony.)
I was also surprised to see artists like Harry Belafonte, The Crew Cuts, Dolly Parton, Ferrante and Teicher and Percy Faith come in ahead of Lionel Richie and The Commodores, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Earth, Wind and Fire, Sly and the Family Stone and The Spinners ... but that's the way the voting shook out.  (All of these other acts mentioned stay eligible for a period of three years so all could eventually make their way to The Hall.) 
A MAJOR plus of The Hit Parade Hall Of Fame is that the fans' votes COUNT ... and they come in from all over the world ... hundreds of thousands of votes ... so the voices of fans are truly represented in the results.
Meanwhile, a brand new list of nominees for 2012 will be announced in mid-February ... so be sure to watch our pages for that list. And check out The Hit Parade Hall Of Fame Website, too, to see the incredible list of artists previously inducted:  Click here: HPH Inductees   (kk)  

Great list! 
Gary Theroux  
As one of the ones who had a hand in the selection process, I figured you'd agree!!! (lol) Thanks, Gary!  (kk) 



re:  THIS AND THAT: 
Who says young people don't want to hear the great music of our generation?
David Lewis 
 

Click here: Jan 2, 2012 9:18pm | Facebook
Certainly not me!!!  (A more appropriate response might be "You're preaching to the choir" ... especially after you view this clip!)  This is a GREAT video of The Left Banke performing their big hit "Walk Away Renee" ... DEFINITELY a "Must See" for the week.  (Man, these guys are sounding GREAT!!! I hope they're still out there performing!)  I couldn't find an "official" Left Banke web page ... and their "fan page" hasn't been updated since 2009 ... so none of this new information will be found there.  But they REALLY sound great!  (kk)
These guys have done several shows around the New York area in the past year.  Tom Finn and George Cameron found each other on Facebook and decided to re-create The Left Banke. Steve Martin Caro and Mike Brown aren't involved but there's hope one or both of them will join for a song or two at an upcoming show. The schedule hasn't been finalized, but there will be an east coast tour this spring.  They did several interviews last year, some on live radio and the one below on video. All the latest info is on their Facebook page.
Pretty Ballerina
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzaig_jlyt4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCedNopvK-Q 
 

Walk Away Renee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM167MaFbFw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts5igrW5Hf4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhVS25gQaic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhuMmjHCUpY
 
Desiree
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsJodqBURNA

Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqD1ZYaUquE 

Recent NPR story with no mention of the recreated band
http://www.npr.org/2011/12/19/140597256/the-left-banke-a-60s-teenage-band-with-two-hits  



Kent ...
I just read this in my newspaper.  French fans of Michael Jackson are suing the late pop star's doctor for the "emotional damage" they suffered over his death, their lawyer said yesterday. The case against Conrad Murray, who was jailed in November over the star's 2009 death, is due to be heard in the city of Orleans on April 11, lawyer Emmanuel Ludot said. "It's similar to losing a childhood friend in a traffic accident," Ludot said.
Kent, do you think it's too late for me to sue Elvis' doctor ? LoL!!
Frank B.

Probably so ... but at least you have your Elvis Mr. Potato Head Collection to help raise your spirits!!!  (kk)   



Hey, tack on to my "We Could be Happy" story that this guy plays some cool stuff too!  Thanks to Mike Hartman for mentioning him!  
Clark Besch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_lFFYtGza0&feature=related  
Yep, that would be our Forgotten Hits Buddy Jeff James ... who posts "From The Vault" tracks every day on YouTube and does a weekend stint on Y103.9 (as well as a number of "hops" in and around town.)  He's the guy who hosted that "Windy City At Six" program we told you about a while back.  (Now off the air from his regular gig thanks to the Tom Kent Radio Take-Over, it's good to see Jeff play some of his favorite oddities again.)  kk  


To Clark Besch: Wish I could've been there at the diner in Omaha!!!  "We Could Be Happy" - great tune from the Shames' wonderful 1st album.  By the way, that Super CFL T-shirt looks terrific!! 
Bobster  



Click here: CD-format to be abandoned by major labels by the end of 2012 - Industrial Music Facebook news at SIDE-LINE.COM  
>>>We've been hearing this for at least six months now ... "hard copy" CD's will go by the wayside in favor of digital downloading.  Too bad ... 'cause there's just something about holding the box, cover and liner notes in your hand that has always held a great appeal for me.  (kk)  
I agree. Plus, CD booklets to read. With downloads, you own NOTHING!  But it is true, CDs won't be around in the beginning of 2013. Because, after Dec. 21, 2012, the whole world won't be around!!!
JJ :)
 


Not sure if you saw it or not, but we recently ran a Q&A with Vic Flick, who found us through Forgotten Hits.  
Here's his piece:  
http://www.songfacts.com/blog/writing/british_session_star_vic_flick/  
Be Well,
Carl
No, I had not seen this, so thanks for sending.  Vic's a great guy and has some amazing stories to tell.  (You'll find a whole lot of them in his book, "Guitarman", which our FH Buddy Bob Rush encouraged him to write.)  We gave away copies a few years back in FH ... but you can still get your own here: 
Click here: Amazon.com: Vic Flick, Guitarman (9781593933081): Vic Flick: Books 

I tuned in my buddy Nick Digilio on Chicago's WGN to hear a fascinating segment on his radio show early Friday morning!  I really think you will find many of things pretty cool to read.  It is an article about the "25 Most Powerful Songs of the Last 25 Years."  Not sure if that is what it should be titled, but some things are just too wild to believe almost. 
Can you believe there is a song that a church has committed to playing to its' end that was started in 2003 and will not end for 639 years?  Did you know that a Beatles tune was first beamed towards space in 2008 from NASA to hopefully reach aliens someday?  It will reach Polaris ("The North Star"  seen almost any night brightly) in 431 years!  There's even a soccer theme in here as well as a song that won 8 Olympic Gold Medals!  Here's the article.   
http://atrl.net/forums/showthread.php?t=170383 
If you'd like to hear the podcast of the radio show and hear clips of each song as I heard it, there are podcasts available of his show. 
http://www.wgnradio.com/shows/nickd/wgnam-nickdshow-111230e,0,3381539.mp3file  
Click here: The Nick D Show 01-02-12 (Part 4: The 25 most powerful songs of the last 25 years 10-1) - WGN Radio


FH Reader Jersey John sent us this list recently (which I had never seen before).  You'll find a couple of surprises on here!

RIAA's Top Selling Artists (April 2011)
Artist
Certified Units in Millions
The Beatles
177
Elvis Presley
129.50
Garth Brooks
128
Led Zepplin
111.5
The Eagles
100
Billy Joel
79.5
Pink Floyd
74.5
Elton John
72
Barbra Streisand
71.5
AC/DC
71

Drum Roll, Please ... For Barbra Streisand ... for being the only female artist on RIAA's Top 10 List of Top Selling Artists
http://barbra-archives.com/record/record_sales_streisand.html
Has nice legs, too! :-)
JJ


My kid just told me that Carly Simon FINALLY let out the secret of who "YOU'RE SO VAIN" is REALLY about .... <yawn>
Must be a new CD coming out ...
VERY disappointing ...
I wish she would have kept it a secret ... At least she could still auction off the information at charity events like she's done in the past ...
Taken to the grave, it would have remained interesting ... 

RENFIELD
But on that album where "You're So Vain" first appeared, Carly told us all "We have no secrets"!!!  So that's a tough call.  I agree ... the mystery was always a great part of the appeal of the song.  (kk)
If you check out Carly's official website, the front page recounts some of the interviews and speculation that have circulated over the years ... but I still don't see an "official" pronouncement as to the "guilty party".  I think the idea that it's a compilation of SEVERAL people is probably most accurate ... but apparently there IS one person in particular that she had in mind.  (kk)
 
Talk about your unsung heroes ... 

'Million Dollar Quartet' drummer recalls unseen role at jam session -
Kent ...
They say " Timing " is everything.
Frank B.
 

 
>>>Caught a couple young girls performing that '50's song, "Tonight You Belong To Me", live, in a Borders' book store.  (John) 
>>>We might be able to attribute this one to the hot new FX Television Series "American Horror Story" ... they've featured the tune twice now (on both the first and last episode of the first season) ... and even our 15 year old has been walking around the house singing it!  

It's what I keep saying ... expose this new, younger generation to this great music ... and they'll fall in love with it just like WE did ... all over again!  The Patience and Prudence hit is about as unlikely a crowd-pleaser as any these days ... but clearly we've both witnessed evidence to the contrary.  (DeeJays ... Programmers ... Consultant "Experts" ... are ANY of you paying attention?!?!?)  kk 

Tonite you belong to me?  The Steve-Martin, Bernadette Peters version from THE JERK?
A keeper !  This version always comes to mind whenever I hear the song...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI8NuFAETMQ
And DARLENE LOVE ?  Sirius-XM's Ron Bennington of RON & FEZ has had two interview shows for several years now ... A MASTER !  Could make ME interesting! 
Here he is with recently mentioned (FH) DARLENE LOVE ... (the Ronnie Specter one is great too) ... http://www.blubrry.com/rbi/1151699/darlene-love/
GARY RENFIELD  -  
www.RIPRenfield.com
P.S.  I watched till nearly the end, but I bailed on AMERICAN HORROR STORY ... getting muddled, not going anywhere after a great start ... and stealing from Rosemary's Baby.
Frannie (and two of our daughters) were COMPLETELY hooked ... I liked bits and pieces.  But now we're hearing that when the show comes back next season it'll be with a whole new cast and storyline ... so Season One's story has been told in full.  Kind of a neat concept I guess ... unless you happen to have fallen in love with this season's characters ... Frannie says she may not even watch again if Jessica Lang is missing ... plus she loved Connie Britton and Evan Peters, who played Tate.  Heck, she even tolerated Dylan McDermott!!!  (kk)
And how about THIS one???  Stranger than fiction ... and sent in to us by unofficial WCBS-FM publicity agent Frank B:


Peter Frampton lost his most-prized guitar, a 1954 Gibson Les Paul Custom, in 1980 when a cargo plane crashed en route to Panama.
Now, with very little explanation, the guitar has been returned to him! Spinner reports all the instruments aboard the flight were thought to be destroyed until Frampton’s guitar was located by two fans on the Dutch island of Curacao. Experts from Gibson confirmed it was indeed the original.  
Frampton’s happy to have the guitar back but puts the situation into perspective saying, “I know I have my guitar back, but I will never forget the lives that were lost in this crash. I am so thankful for the efforts of those who made this possible … And, now that it is back I am going insure it for 2 million dollars and it’s never going out of my sight again! It was always my #1 guitar and it will be reinstated there as soon as possible — some minor repairs are needed.” 
Read more: Frampton’s Guitar Found Over 30 Years After Plane Crash http://womc.radio.com/2012/01/03/framptons-guitar-found-over-30-years-after-plane-crash/#ixzz1inneCK00

Kent -
I just want to tell you of a new site that I started called the Monkees Album by Album at http://themonkeesalbumbyalbum.blogspot.com 
Hope you had a Happy New Year and a Merry Christmas.
Rick Phillips
Happy to post a link, Rick ... you know what a major Monkees fan I am!!!  (kk)

Kent ...
According to Ron Smith's book, Paul Revere's Birthday was 1/7/12.
That's a " Good Thing. "
Frank B.

Well then , a VERY Happy Belated Birthday to Paul Revere then!!!  (kk)

And, speaking of Happy Birthdays ..

re:  ELVIS BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE:
We saluted The King Of Rock And Roll this past weekend by suggesting a few songs that don't normally show up on the "standard" / "traditional" Elvis play lists we hear on the radio today.  I know there were a number of radio tributes, live performance events and television stations remembering The King by showing some of his movies ... honestly, too many to list them all.  Unfortunately, received this notice from Trade Martin AFTER the program had already aired so we couldn't pass it along ... but check out Jimmy Jay's site ... he often has podcast / rebroadcasts available (and this sounds like a good one!) kk

"THE KING AND HIS GUITAR”:  Airing Sunday, January 8th, at 12:15 pm EST on http://www.95.9watd.com/ is the most exciting radio event of the weekend. 
“DJ of the Stars” Jimmy Jay celebrates & honors the “KINGS” birthday. 
Listen to Jimmy’s friends, Brenda Lee, BJ Thomas, Johnny Tillotson, the Jordonairs, Trade Martin and Wanda Jackson tell stories about Elvis and his timeless musical career.  
Hear it online too:  http://www.95.9watd.com/  
Jimmy, thanks for having me as a guest on your Elvis Birthday Special and for utilizing my song and its title, "THE KING AND HIS GUITAR" for your historical Elvis broadcast!!!
Warmest regards,
Trade.
Video link :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCNAsfWDDs0 

Kent,
How about Sun Record single #217, “I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone”, recorded on April 10, 1955. The “B” side to “Baby Let’s Play House”.  
I particularly remember this song, because I saw Elvis sing it live on a local TV show in Lubbock, TX, in '54 or '55.  I was just a kid and he was unknown at that time, but sang with a with a group, their name I don't recall.  I believe they were gong to entertain that night at a local club, the Cotton Club.  I wanted to go, but my parents wouldn't let me,

A year later he came back to Lubbock and was a star and sold out the local Lubbock auditorium, Fair Park Coliseum
Jay Wiginton
Other than on Elvis specialty shows, you don't really hear ANY of Elvis' early Sun material anymore.  The most likely candidate seems to be "That's All Right, Mama", only because of the history behind it (and the fact that Elvis continued to feature it in many of his live shows.)  All of the others (ultimately rereleased by RCA anyway) seem to have fallen off the radar ... but it was these early rock-a-billy tracks that got Elvis noticed (and signed to a bigger label) in the first place.  (kk)

Kent,  
Besides Elvis, January 8th is also the birthday of one David Jones, who had to change his name because of the success of Monkee Davy Jones.  He picked the Bowie knife, and forever more has been known as David Bowie, Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, the Thin White Duke, Major Tom.  My all-time fave, wish him many Birthday blessings.  Wham, Bam, Thank you man!!!!! 
Ed Pond
This is true ... and Bowie's birthday has probably been slighted every year thanks to Elvis ... so yes, Happy Birthday to David Bowie, too!  (kk)

re:  ALIOTTA, HAYNES AND JEREMIAH / 
LAKE SHORE DRIVE: 
Thanks so much for running the real story from Skip Haynes to clear up so many misconceptions about both the band and their best known song.  I'll add a link to the Skip Haynes Part II segment on the "Lake Shore Drive" Songfacts page explaining that the comprehensive story can be found there. It's always great to hear from these guys and get their stories out there.
Another rumor I've heard floating around is that John Jeremiah from the band was the inspiration for the famous line "Jeremiah was a bullfrog," but some interviews with found with Hoyt Axton show that it was just something he made up.
Carl Wiser / Songfacts 
I've seen that written many times, too, but to the best of my knowledge, Hoyt Axton never officially confirmed anything.  John Jermiah DID, however, play in a bar band after Aliotta, Haynes and Jeremiah, called The Bull Frogs ... so who knows.  (Then again, maybe we've all got it backwards ... perhaps John picked HIS band's name after the famous Hoyt Axton song!!!)  kk

Great story by Skip Haynes regarding the true origins of 'Lake Shore Drive'.  Like you, I always felt that I knew most of the story -- but Skip relates it in such an entertaining manner that it was a pleasure to hear it all again from this new perspective.  (Who knew the band didn't really care for the song!  Or that there were so many "happy coincidences" that helped bring it all to light!)  A very interesting read. 
Eddie

Hi Kent:  
I always liked “Lake Shore Drive” and still do. It got some pretty decent airplay up here in Milwaukee in ’73 & ’75. Even more so in ’75 with the re-release of the 45. Interesting story, but leaves me with a bit of confusion. He says the song was recorded in 1972, which seems ok, but partly inspired by America’s “Lonely People” which is recorded in 1974. Seems a bit hazy there, but interesting  anyway.  
Ken  


We got this one a few times ... check out the next two emails ...

Hey Kent, 
Skip Haynes did a great job telling the story behind the classic Lake Shore Drive!
One question though ... Skip writes that the "musical inspiration" for the LSD came from "Mr. Bojangles" and America's "Lonely People".  As far as "Lonely People", this couldn't be correct as that America song wasn't released until 1974, three years after Lake Shore Drive was written and released.
A minor point, but just thought I'd mention it for the record.
Dick Eastman
Antioch, IL  

Kent, 
I don’t mean to nitpick, but I do have to question one part of Skip Haynes's account of Lake Shore Drive.  Haynes said the musical inspirations for this song were Jerry Jeff Walker’s Mister Bojangles and America’s Lonely People.  I definitely hear the influence of Mister Bojangles, which is from 1968.  But Lonely People was not recorded until April, 1974, so I doubt that it could have been in Haynes’s head in December of 1971.  Nevertheless, it's a great story.
Dan Crabtree
I ran these emails past Skip Haynes to see if you could offer any kind of explanation / correction / clarification.  Here's what I got back!!! (lol)

Hi Kent, 
They're right ... Old drug injuries!  
Remember, this was over 40 years ago and I wasn't paying attention - girls you know. Thank everybody concerned. Also, I didn't even know we got that kind of airplay in Milwaukee. Please thank Ken, Dick and Dan for me.
It's ony rock N' roll.
All the best -
Skip  

It's pretty interesting that Lake Shore Drive was completed on the morning of Jan 1, 1972. I recorded this clip at 1:20 AM on 1/1/72, which I now know was at the same moment one of my all-time favorite songs was being recorded.
David Lewis 

Kent, 
I LOVED the story on "Lake Shore Drive"!!  I had no idea of all of the story and it fills a big void in my Chicago music knowledge.  Now maybe you can get the story on TW4!  They were the early incarnation of Styx and although no recordings have been released of this band, I am lucky enough to have heard some tracks recorded by TW4 and believe it or not, Styx took pieces of the TW4 songs and made some of these big parts of later Styx records!!  Would love to hear the story of TW4 someday and why they Styx cut up parts of TW4 songs to make new songs for Styx instead of just rerecording the original, which are also quite good!  
Clark Besch


Hi, 
I am so happy to hear the story of how "Lake Shore Drive" came to be.  My husband is the "oldies" nut, but he shows me your site when it's something I care about.   I can't remember when I first heard this song as we live in Milwaukee, but it was probably in the mid-90's on Chicago radio somehow.  It caught my attention from the first note and we looked hard to find out WHO and WHAT it was!  A little research and we had our answers.  Years later, I purchased a compilation of all Chicago-themed songs just to get "Lake Shore Drive".  And funny, I was a big Jerry Jeff Walker fan in the late 70's so maybe that's why this song speaks to my heart.  I never tire of it, and it can improve my mood instantly.  In fact, for one of my birthdays, my husband Bob had our local oldies station play the song for me!  I still have the (cassette!) tape of that intro and the song.  So Lake Shore Drive will never be forgotten around here!
Thanks for all the good you do,
Barb Verbos
Great story!  Thanks, Barb!  (Hey, and you can check the site out once in a while on your own, too!!!  We won't mind!!!  lol)  kk

That  was just thee best story  about  `Lake Shore Drive` ... 
Thank  you,  Skip  Haynes ...  Thank  you  Kent ...   
I’ve been  to  Paragon  and  it  was  the  best  studio  in  Chicago ...   
I remember  being  impressed by all the  sexy  `Ohio Players`  record  covers  on  the  walls  going  up  the  stairs  to the  3rd  floor.
R. 
Tampa Bay

Kent; 
I want to congratulate you and all involved in The Story Behind "Lake Shore Drive" (Part Two) . What a great song and well written story. While our tastes often vary, this just knocked my socks off.
Reading all the details enhanced the song for me. What a trip! Strange that I don't recall ever hearing it before. My how the music business has changed. This should have beena national top ten record.
Amazing how it all came together and yes, the piano and strings were superb.
This is one song I wish I had for my own and hope the album had some additional gems on it. 
Brilliant piece, thanks to all for sharing.
bdpoe
Orlando, FL
Thanks, BD ... you can pick up a copy of this classic album for your own collection through Skip's website:    
Click here: LAKE SHORE DRIVE: SKIP HAYNES & ALIOTTA HAYNES JEREMIAH .   

In fact, there's even a special "Greatest Hits" CD compilation available through this site. 

"Lake Shore Drive" caught on in every city that had one ... and, apparently there are HUNDREDS spread out across The United States, making this a very "relatable" song when it was first released (and grew in legend on the more progressive FM band.)  The long-suspected drug reference kept it off most of the mainstream AM stations ... but this was PERFECT FM fare for this day and age.  Great to see that new folks are still discovering this now classic tune.  (kk)  

And we've got some exclusive brand new Aliotta / Haynes news for you, too! ...
 
Hi Kent,  
Wanted to let you know that Mitch Aliotta and I have begun work on a new album which will be released early this summer. it will be something completely different  - but classic. It will be produced by Dana Walden who used to be with the band called Champagne and wrote "How 'bout Us?". Dana will also be playing keyboards on the CD. The concert will still be on but we'll probably push the date ahead to accommodate the CD release.
Thanks again! 

All the Best

Skip